Cooling garment

ABSTRACT

The garments described herein cool the human body and effectively reduce the working environment temperature. They can also reduce the temperature of the human body in time when exercising. The garments are provided with seals that improve fit and define a relatively closed space within the garments such that cold air is not easily emitted, which enhances the cooling effect.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201921918245.7, filed Nov. 8, 2019, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Climate change has caused summer temperatures in many countries to reachover 35° C. When outside temperatures rise to 38.5° C., the relativetemperature of enclosed environments may reach as high as 45° C., whichis threatening to human life. These temperatures cause serious injury topeople who are outdoors for extended periods of time. For example, thebody temperatures of athletes and outdoor event attendees rise rapidlyduring intense exercise and failure to cool down in time will causevarious conditions such as heat stroke and dehydration.

There is therefore a need in the art for improved personal coolingdevices. The present invention meets this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a cooling garmentcomprising: a garment body; at least one cooling device positionedwithin the garment body; and at least one seal attached to an entiretyof a garment edge.

In one embodiment, the garment body is in the form of an article ofclothing selected from the group consisting of: vests, short-sleevedshirts, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants,undergarments, gloves, socks, and hats. In one embodiment, the garmentedge includes one or more of a shirt hem, a waistband, a shirt cuff, apant cuff, a collar, an arm hole, a leg hole, a zippered opening, and abuttoned opening.

In one embodiment, the at least one seal is a continuous seal. In oneembodiment, the at least one seal is a segmented seal. In oneembodiment, the at least one seal comprises a material selected from thegroup consisting of: a rubber, a silicone, a polymer foam, and a gel. Inone embodiment, the at least one seal comprises an inflatable gasket,wherein the at least one seal further comprises a valve.

In one embodiment, the garment further comprises one or more connectorsselected from the group consisting of: zippers, buttons, hook and loopsystems, and clasps.

In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device comprises a coolantlayer. In one embodiment, the coolant layer comprises a thicknessbetween about 8 mm and 14 mm. In one embodiment, the coolant layercomprises a freezable material selected from the group consisting of:water, alcohol, propylene glycol, and silica gel.

In one embodiment, the coolant layer is covered at a front and a back bya polymer layer. In one embodiment, each polymer layer comprises athickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm. In one embodiment, each polymerlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicone.

In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device is covered at a frontand a back by a cloth layer. In one embodiment, each cloth layercomprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm. In one embodiment,each cloth layer comprises a material selected from the group consistingof: cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool.

In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device comprises a laminatedconstruction in the order of a first cloth layer, a first polymer layer,a coolant layer, a second polymer layer, and a second cloth layer. Inone embodiment, the first cloth layer faces a wearer and comprises anabsorbent cloth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of theinvention will be better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the inventionis not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of theembodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view (left) and rear view (right) of an exemplarycooling garment.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary cooling garment.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary cooling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The garments described herein cool the human body and effectively reducethe working environment temperature. They can also reduce thetemperature of the human body in time when exercising. The garments areprovided with seals that improve fit and define a relatively closedspace within the garments such that cold air is not easily emitted,which enhances the cooling effect.

Definitions

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for the purpose of clarity, many other elements typically found in theart. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that otherelements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing thepresent invention. However, because such elements and steps are wellknown in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elementsand steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed toall such variations and modifications to such elements and methods knownto those skilled in the art.

Unless defined elsewhere, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, exemplary methods andmaterials are described.

As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associatedwith it in this section.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to morethan one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of thearticle. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more thanone element.

“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as anamount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompassvariations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, and ±0.1% from the specified value,as such variations are appropriate.

Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can bepresented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6, and anywhole and partial increments there between. This applies regardless ofthe breadth of the range.

Cooling Garment

Referring now to FIG. 1 , an exemplary cooling garment 100 is depicted.For illustration purposes, garment 100 is depicted as a vest, but itshould be understood that garment 100 can take the form of any articleof clothing, including but not limited to short-sleeved shirts,long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants, undergarments,gloves, socks, hats, and the like. Garment 100 comprises a garment body101 formed with a front section 110 and a rear section 120. In someembodiments, front section 110 and rear section 120 are connected by aconnecting section 130. While the depicted garment 100 is shown withfront section 110 as a vest front and rear section 120 as a vest rear,persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that certaingarments possess similar front sections 110 and rear sections 120 (e.g.,shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants, undergarments, socks, and thelike) and certain garments may be reversible such that front sections110 and rear sections 120 can be identical or interchangeable (e.g.,gloves, hats, and the like).

Garment 100 further comprises at least one first seal 140 and at leastone second seal 150 attached to edges of garment 100. The seals therebypreserve an enclosed space between garment 100 and the wearer's bodythat prevents cold air from leaking out and limits dust and pollutionintrusion. The edges of garment 100 border openings that are common tomany articles of clothing, including but not limited to shirt hems,waistbands, shirt and pant cuffs, collars, arm holes, leg holes,zippered openings, buttoned openings, and the like. In some embodiments,first seal 140 and/or second seal 150 are continuous seals along theentirety of the continuity of a garment edge. In some embodiments, firstseal 140 and/or second seal 150 are segmented seals along the entiretyof the continuity of a garment edge. First seal 140 and second seal 150may each comprise a pliable material suitable for conforming to contoursof a wearer's body such that gaps and apertures between garment 100 andthe wearer's body are closed. Non-limiting examples of pliable materialsinclude rubber, silicone, polymer foam, gel, and the like. In someembodiments, first seal 140 and second seal 150 may each comprise aninflatable gasket, such that first seal 140 and second seal 150 may beat least partially inflated with a fluid (such as a gas or a liquid) byway of a valve 141 to enhance the closure of gaps and apertures betweengarment 100 and the wearer's body.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , an exploded view of cooling garment 100 isdepicted. Garment 100 further comprises first cooling device 160, secondcooling device 170, first polymer layer 200, and second polymer layer210. In various embodiments, garment 100 can further comprise one ormore connectors 111. Connectors 111 joins edges of garment 100 forcloser fits or to close openings, and can include but are not limited tozippers, buttons, hook and loop systems, clasps, and the like. Invarious embodiments, garment 100 can further comprise stitching orbinding 180 and 190 to attach the several elements of garment 100 toeach other.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an exploded view of cooling device 170 isdepicted. It should be understood that cooling device 160 and coolingdevice 170 are structurally similar. For simplicity, cooling device 170is described here. Cooling device 170 comprises cloth layer 171, polymerlayer 172, coolant layer 173, polymer layer 174, and cloth layer 175.Coolant layer 173 contains a source of cold temperature material. Insome embodiments, the cold temperature material can be frozen uses theprinciple of liquefaction and heat absorption to achieve a coolingeffect, and can include but is not limited to: water, alcohol, silicagel, propylene glycol, and the like. In some embodiments, coolant layer173 is segmented to improve bendability and flexibility.

Coolant layer 173 can be covered by polymer layer 172 and 174. Duringuse, moisture can collect on the exterior surface of coolant layer 173.Polymer layer 172 and 174 can be provided as waterproof orwater-resistant layers that at least partially block moisture collectingon coolant layer 173. Contemplated polymers include but are not limitedto polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), silicone, andthe like. Polymer layer 172 and 174 can be covered by cloth layer 171and 175. Cloth layer 171 and 175 can each provide a plurality ofstructural enhancements. For example, cloth layer 171 and 175 canprovide cushioning that enhances a wearer's comfort. Cloth layer 171 and175 can also provide a degree of separation between the wearer andcoolant layer 173, wherein air pockets in cloth layer 171 and 175 helpto regulate temperature at a comfortable level and prevent cold burns.Cloth layer 171 and 175 can also help absorb any moisture that collectson the exterior surface of polymer layer 172 and 174 or absorb moistureemanating from the wearer. Contemplated cloths include but are notlimited to cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, and the like.

In various embodiments, each of the polymer layer 172 and 174 and clothlayer 171 and 175 can comprise a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm.In some embodiments, the thickness is 3 mm. In some embodiments, coolantlayer 173 can have a thickness between about 8 mm and 14 mm. In someembodiments, the layers are ordered such that an absorbent cloth layerfaces a wearer. In some embodiments, the layers are ordered such that acotton cloth layer faces away from a wearer. In various embodiments, thecooling devices 160 and 170 each comprise a laminated layerconstruction, wherein the layers are in the order of cloth layer 171,polymer layer 172, coolant layer 173, polymer layer 174, and cloth layer175.

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, andpublication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specificembodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations ofthis invention may be devised by others skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appendedclaims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments andequivalent variations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooling garment comprising: a garment body; atleast one cooling device positioned within the garment body; and atleast one seal attached to an entirety of a garment edge.
 2. The garmentof claim 1, wherein the garment body is in the form of an article ofclothing selected from the group consisting of: vests, short-sleevedshirts, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants,undergarments, gloves, socks, and hats.
 3. The garment of claim 1,wherein the garment edge includes one or more of a shirt hem, awaistband, a shirt cuff, a pant cuff, a collar, an arm hole, a leg hole,a zippered opening, and a buttoned opening.
 4. The garment of claim 1,wherein the at least one seal is a continuous seal.
 5. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one seal is a segmented seal.
 6. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal comprises a materialselected from the group consisting of: a rubber, a silicone, a polymerfoam, and a gel.
 7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least oneseal comprises an inflatable gasket, wherein the at least one sealfurther comprises a valve.
 8. The garment of claim 1, further comprisingone or more connectors selected from the group consisting of: zippers,buttons, hook and loop systems, and clasps.
 9. The garment of claim 1,wherein the at least one cooling device comprises a coolant layer. 10.The garment of claim 9, wherein the coolant layer comprises a thicknessbetween about 8 mm and 14 mm.
 11. The garment of claim 9, wherein thecoolant layer comprises a freezable material selected from the groupconsisting of: water, alcohol, propylene glycol, and silica gel.
 12. Thegarment of claim 9, wherein the coolant layer is covered at a front anda back by a polymer layer.
 13. The garment of claim 12, wherein eachpolymer layer comprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm.
 14. Thegarment of claim 12, wherein each polymer layer comprises a materialselected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride (PVC),ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicone.
 15. The garment of claim 9,wherein the at least one cooling device is covered at a front and a backby a cloth layer.
 16. The garment of claim 15, wherein each cloth layercomprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm.
 17. The garment ofclaim 15, wherein each cloth layer comprises a material selected fromthe group consisting of: cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool.
 18. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling device comprises alaminated construction in the order of a first cloth layer, a firstpolymer layer, a coolant layer, a second polymer layer, and a secondcloth layer.
 19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the first cloth layerfaces a wearer and comprises an absorbent cloth.